Brewery Operations Major, B.S.

Smithsonian Magazine hailed Charlie Papazian as “the schoolteacher who sparked America’s Craft Brew Revolution.” True to his teaching spirit, MSU Denver has honored his contributions by naming its new Brewing Education Lab after him. Just down the road from his Boulder home, this state-of-the-art lab is dedicated to educating the brewing leaders of tomorrow.

Explore Our Cutting-Edge Facilities: Charlie’s Lab features a 100-gallon brewing facility with vessels, transfer equipment, utilities, and analytical tools relevant to any small commercial brewery. Students gain hands-on experience in brewing, fermenting, finishing, packaging, and dispensing commercially produced beer.

Experience Excellence: Our lab produces 100% student-brewed beers with an impressive 4.3-star rating on Untappd, available at our own Degree Brewpub and locally self-distributed.

Engage and Learn: The lab also boasts an academic area that doubles as a tasting and events venue, where students receive instruction while interacting with visitors and customers.

Join us at Charlie Papazian Brewing Education Lab, where history meets innovation, and brewing excellence is nurtured.

Unlock the full potential of your brewing expertise with our state-of-the-art Beverage Analytics QA/QC Laboratory, powered by the prestigious Siebel Institute®. Run by TTB-certified faculty and staff in Beer, Wine, and Spirits, our lab offers a comprehensive suite of services, including alcohol content and nutritional analysis, as well as specific component assessments.

For over 145 years, the Siebel Institute has educated generations of brewers on quality brewing excellence. As one of the first brewing laboratories and yeast banks in the Americas, Siebel has been at the forefront of brewing analysis and quality certification. Now, Siebel Institute proudly powers the Beverage Analytics QA/QC Laboratory at MSU Denver, collaborating closely with clients to meet their testing needs.

In collaboration with Microbial Domains LLC, we also provide advanced microbiological monitoring and detection services.

Our analytical lab is also an invaluable resource for students, offering hands-on experience in technical and scientific aspects of brewing. From in-process to final product analysis, our lab equips future brewers with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in the industry.

The beer industry in Colorado has created 63,648 jobs and contributes more than $12.7 billion to the economy, according to a 2023 report by the Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association. We partner with over 400 Colorado breweries and several industry trade groups, ensuring our students gain practical experience through internships and employment opportunities. Join us at MSU Denver and become part of a thriving community dedicated to excellence in hospitality and beverage education.

Welcome to the Hospitality Learning Center—a unique fusion of a top-rated hotel and an innovative learning environment, established in 2012. This state-of-the-art facility is the cornerstone of our School of Hospitality, offering unparalleled laboratory and classroom spaces, including: a Natural Light Sensory Analysis Lab, Beer & Wine Cellar Laboratory, Degree Brewpub (where our student-brewed beers are served to the public), Culinary Demonstration Theater, Culinary, Tourism, and Event Laboratories, and a LEED Gold Certified Hotel and Conference Center (an international hub for beverage education).

Cross-Campus Collaboration
Our program is designed through collaboration with multiple departments, providing a comprehensive, cross-curricular education. Departments involved include: Hospitality, Law, Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Marketing, and Management.

World-Class Facilities and Partnerships
At MSU Denver, we boast a premier science building equipped with world-class facilities for brewing quality analysis. Our One World One Water (OWOW) Center offers exceptional coursework and research in water management, law, and analysis, as well as a direct connection with the Denver Botanic Gardens who supply hops for our Brewery Operations Program.

The degree programs in the School of Hospitality at MSU Denver are accredited through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).